| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[ \Delta x = 6.2\cos(1.6\,t) \] | This is the standard displacement equation for simple harmonic motion, with an amplitude of \(6.2\,m\) and a phase constant of zero since the object is at its maximum displacement at \(t = 0.0\,s\). |
| \[ \Delta x = 6.2\cos(1.6 \times 3.5) \] | We substitute the given time \(t = 3.5\,s\) into the equation. |
| \[ 1.6 \times 3.5 = 5.6 \] | This multiplication gives the phase angle in radians used in the cosine function. |
| \[ \cos(5.6) \approx 0.777 \] | The cosine of \(5.6\,rad\) is approximately \(0.777\) (using a calculator or estimation by relating it to \(2\pi – 5.6\)). |
| \[ \Delta x \approx 6.2 \times 0.777 \approx 4.8\,\text{m} \] | Multiplying the amplitude by the cosine value gives the displacement at \(t = 3.5\,s\). |
| \[ \boxed{4.8\,\text{m}} \] | This is the final displacement of the object, which matches option (a). |
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Three pendulums are set in motion, oscillating through small amplitudes. Each has the same mass. Rank the period of the pendulums from shortest to longest.
A box of mass \( 20 \) \( \text{kg} \) moves to the right on a horizontal frictionless surface with a speed of \( 4.0 \) \( \text{m/s} \). The box collides with and remains attached to one end of a spring of negligible mass whose other end is fixed to a wall. After the collision, the spring compresses a maximum distance of \( 0.50 \) \( \text{m} \), and the box then oscillates back and forth.
The total energy of a system in SHM is given by \( E \). At what displacement from equilibrium is the kinetic energy equal to the potential energy?

A simple pendulum oscillates with amplitude \(A\) and period \(T\), as represented on the graph above. Which option best represents the magnitude of the pendulum’s velocity \(v\) and acceleration \(a\) at time \(\frac{T}{2}\)?
On Earth, a simple pendulum of length \(1.2 \, \text{meters}\), mass of \(3 \, \text{kg}\), and amplitude of \(10\) degrees oscillates back and forth. Calculate:

A 0.2 kg object is attached to a horizontal spring undergoes SHM with the total energy of 0.4 J. The kinetic energy as a function of position presented by the graph.
A Christmas ornament made from a thin hollow glass sphere hangs from a thin wire of negligible mass. It is observed to oscillates with a frequency of \( 2.50 \) \( \text{Hz} \) in a city where \( g = 9.80 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \). What is the radius of the ornament? The moment of inertia of the ornament is given by \( I = \frac{5}{3} mr^2 \).
A pendulum has a period of \(2.0 \, \text{s}\) on Earth. What is its length?
A block of mass \( m \) is attached to a horizontal spring with spring constant \( k \) and undergoes simple harmonic motion with amplitude \( A \) along the \( x \)-axis. Which of the following equations could represent the position \( x \) of the object as a function of time?
A \( 50 \) \( \text{g} \) ice cube can slide up and down a frictionless \( 30^{\circ}\) slope. At the bottom, a spring with spring constant \( 25 \) \( \text{N/m} \) is compressed \( 10 \) \( \text{cm} \) and is used to launch the ice cube up the slope. How high does it go above its starting point? Express your answer with the appropriate units.
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| Kinematics | Forces |
|---|---|
| \(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\) | \(F = ma\) |
| \(v = v_i + at\) | \(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\) |
| \(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\) | \(f = \mu N\) |
| \(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\) | \(F_s =-kx\) |
| \(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) |
| Circular Motion | Energy |
|---|---|
| \(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\) | \(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\) |
| \(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\) | \(PE = mgh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\) | \(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\) |
| \(W = Fd \cos\theta\) |
| Momentum | Torque and Rotations |
|---|---|
| \(p = mv\) | \(\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)\) |
| \(J = \Delta p\) | \(I = \sum mr^2\) |
| \(p_i = p_f\) | \(L = I \cdot \omega\) |
| Simple Harmonic Motion | Fluids |
|---|---|
| \(F = -kx\) | \(P = \frac{F}{A}\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\) | \(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\) | \(Q = Av\) |
| \(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\) | \(F_b = \rho V g\) |
| \(a = -\omega^2 x\) | \(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\) |
| Constant | Description |
|---|---|
| [katex]g[/katex] | Acceleration due to gravity, typically [katex]9.8 , \text{m/s}^2[/katex] on Earth’s surface |
| [katex]G[/katex] | Universal Gravitational Constant, [katex]6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2[/katex] |
| [katex]\mu_k[/katex] and [katex]\mu_s[/katex] | Coefficients of kinetic ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) and static ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) friction, dimensionless. Static friction ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) is usually greater than kinetic friction ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) as it resists the start of motion. |
| [katex]k[/katex] | Spring constant, in [katex]\text{N/m}[/katex] |
| [katex] M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Earth |
| [katex] M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Moon |
| [katex] M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Sun |
| Variable | SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]s[/katex] (Displacement) | [katex]\text{meters (m)}[/katex] |
| [katex]v[/katex] (Velocity) | [katex]\text{meters per second (m/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]a[/katex] (Acceleration) | [katex]\text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]t[/katex] (Time) | [katex]\text{seconds (s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]m[/katex] (Mass) | [katex]\text{kilograms (kg)}[/katex] |
| Variable | Derived SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]F[/katex] (Force) | [katex]\text{newtons (N)}[/katex] |
| [katex]E[/katex], [katex]PE[/katex], [katex]KE[/katex] (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy) | [katex]\text{joules (J)}[/katex] |
| [katex]P[/katex] (Power) | [katex]\text{watts (W)}[/katex] |
| [katex]p[/katex] (Momentum) | [katex]\text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\omega[/katex] (Angular Velocity) | [katex]\text{radians per second (rad/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\tau[/katex] (Torque) | [katex]\text{newton meters (Nm)}[/katex] |
| [katex]I[/katex] (Moment of Inertia) | [katex]\text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]f[/katex] (Frequency) | [katex]\text{hertz (Hz)}[/katex] |
Metric Prefixes
Example of using unit analysis: Convert 5 kilometers to millimeters.
Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]
Use the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and meters to millimeters: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}}[/katex]
Perform the multiplication: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}} = 5 \times 10^3 \times 10^3 \, \text{mm}[/katex]
Simplify to get the final answer: [katex]\boxed{5 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm}}[/katex]
Prefix | Symbol | Power of Ten | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Pico- | p | [katex]10^{-12}[/katex] | 0.000000000001 |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | 0.000000001 |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | 0.000001 |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | 0.001 |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | 0.01 |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | 0.1 |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | 1 |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | 10 |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | 100 |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | 1,000 |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | 1,000,000 |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000 |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000,000 |
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